Personal injury attorneys strongly recommend that car accident victims gather evidence from the scene of the accident if they are able to do so. Besides talking to witnesses and exchanging information with the other drivers, victims should also take pictures of the scene. Why is it so important to take photos after a car accident? What should you photograph? Here’s everything that you need to know:
Why Taking Pictures is Necessary
People who have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver will need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. But without evidence, the other driver or his insurance company may argue that the accident was your fault. If it turns into a “he said, she said” argument, it’s not likely that you will recover the compensation that you deserve.
To avoid this problem, take as many pictures as possible at the scene of the accident. Why? Photos can reveal a lot about the accident, including the direction the drivers were traveling in, the impact of the collision, and the damages caused by the crash. Even if something seems insignificant to you, it could be the missing piece of the puzzle that your attorney needs to prove liability. In some cases, photos are also used to help an accident reconstruction expert recreate the collision to prove which driver was at fault.
What to Photograph
If it is safe to do so, take pictures of the vehicles that were involved in the accident before they are moved off of the road. Photograph the vehicles both up close and from a distance so you can capture the positioning of the vehicles as well as the dents, cracked windshields, and scratches caused by the collision. If the vehicles hit anything else such as a light pole or stop sign, photograph the damage caused by this collision as well.
If you have visible injuries, take photos of these as well. It’s best to photograph your injuries on a daily basis so you can show how they worsened or how long they took to heal.
Then, look around to see if there is anything on the road. Did one of the vehicles leave skid marks on the road? Is there broken glass from a window or a piece of a bumper laying in the middle of the street? Photograph this debris so you can paint a clear picture of what happened later on.
Finally, look for any traffic signs or lights that could have played a role in the accident. Try to take these pictures from far away so the picture shows exactly where the vehicles are in relation to the traffic signs or lights. This may help you prove that the accident was caused by the other driver’s failure to obey a traffic sign or light.
Have you been injured in a car accident? There’s no time to waste—seek legal representation as soon as possible. Contact Reisch Law Firm today so our personal injury attorneys can begin analyzing this photographic evidence to prove liability. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
